I’m just thinking the other alternative would be to find someone to rent a room or two through hotpads/craigslist that is a sane professional and purchase a house in an area that is in at least modest demand.

You might want to read our series about how to “Screen a PMC Better than a Tenant”: https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3094/91877-how-to-screen-a-pmc-better-than-a-tenant-part-1-services-and-processes

The rest of our cities accept the section 8 inspection and lieu of the city inspection.I wrote a blog about section 8 that will answer most of your questions.

It has everything you need from free online videos and educational courses to having the ability to post blogs and connect with other investors, the possibilities are endless! 

I've read blogs and watched YouTube and of course have seen Grant Cardone go on and on about commercial apartment complexes being the end-all-be-all so it got me thinking that I was doing something wrong..

@Dulce Beltran not too long ago I posted a blog post and a short video discussing Multifamily classes: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/8514/54703-how-to-determine-the-class-of-an-apartment-buildingHope this helps. 

Check out Fannie maes delayed financing ;https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5110/42824-all-about-delayed-financing

Check out this IBM blog on "blockchain for business:"https://www.ibm.com/blogs/blockchain/2017/05/the-difference-between-bitcoin-and-blockchain-for-business/"blockchain can be used for a much broader range of assets than just cryptocurrency.

Hope it helps: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/8814/70530-fix-and-flip-project-costs-purchase-sale-and-holding

I'm a complete newbie to REI other than spending hours reading through BP forums and blogs, any information/knowledge that I can gain from others would be AWESOME!